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NBA Picks

NBA Picks: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers in Game 4

The
Spurs are on the verge of sweeping the Blazers after going seven games with the
Mavs, and the NBA Odds seem to think they will. However Portland is still at
home, and a team this good always have some fight left in them.

Tony Parker owns BlazersThe matchup
between Tony Parker and Damian Lillard has been completely one-sided, and after
I predicted the Blazers would win this series, they are on the verge of being
swept. As you can imagine, the NBA Odds have the Spurs as road favorites in
Game 4 at -2 ½, with a total of 211.

Parker’s
dominance can probably stem back to all the rest he received last month, and
apparently it’s showing here in the second round. The Spurs are probably very
motivated to get this series over with quickly, because after playing seven
games in the first round, they are going to need some rest before facing off
against either Oklahoma City or Los Angeles.

So where
some teams might let up in a Game 4 scenario on the road, the Spurs will still
have their foot firmly planted on the accelerator in Game 4. They need rest
more than any other team left in the playoffs if they want to win a title, and
I’m sure like the Blazers will be doing, the Spurs are going to pull out all of
the stops to shorten this series as much as possible.

[gameodds]5/286091/?r3=43-19-349/dec&r-1=43-19-349/us[/gameodds]

The Sharp PickThe two
things that have given the Blazers the most trouble is the Spurs’ defense, and
their ability to get offense from a number of different areas. On defense, the
Spurs are looking like the 2007 Spurs again on defense, and if they keep this
up, they are going to be tough to beat. The Spurs aren’t great individually on
defense, but as a team when they are working together, they are tough to score
on. Getting rest is also the only thing that will keep this defense going, so
expect an intense Game 4.

However
even though it might be very intense, I think the over is still the play. The
over has cashed in all three games of this series, and with the Spurs’ balance
on offense, the Blazers’ defense is simply no match.

During
the playoffs, the Blazers are now giving up over 113 points per game, and over
115 points per game in this series alone. They are not going to beat the Spurs
in a shoot out, but it appears they have no other option. They have zero answer
for Parker right now, and with about six or seven other Spurs to worry about
along with him on offense, it’s too much for this inexperienced Blazers defense.

Even at
211, the total looks ripe for an over bet. The Spurs’ defense has been good, but
the Blazers should still be able to get at or around 100 points here at home.
The over has now cashed in 10 of the Blazers’ last 12 games dating back to the
regular season, and for the Spurs, the over has now cashed in six straight
games this postseason. Take the over at 211.